Beauty

Summer spa getaway: 6 totally over-the-top spas to try this summer

Looking to book a relaxing summer spa getaway? You could opt for a typical (and lovely) five-star hotel spa retreat—or you could unwind in a spa located inside a cave. If unique is what you’re looking for, read on. We’ve rounded up six offbeat destination spas that are built into their exotic surroundings—with incredible results.

While there’s nothing unusual about enjoying Japanese sake, green tea or coffee at a spa just 100 kilometres outside of Tokyo, the Yunessun Spa Resort has a different use for them: soaking in Roman-style baths. Against the lush backdrop of Mount Fuji, spa-goers submerge themselves in a pool of their favourite local beverage. For this spa retreat, soak in the antioxidant rich green tea from the foot of the Tanzawa and Hakone mountains as it pours from the spout of a two-metre tall teapot. Or speed up your jet lag recovery in a tub of coffee and hot springs water. And while swimming in red wine offers total-body rejuvenation—and let’s be honest, our Saturday night dream come true— we wouldn’t recommend taking a swill from the 3.6-metre tall bottle.

Chile’s newest luxury retreat is the result of an intensive 10-year restoration to a 1915 sheep factory along the southern shores of the Señoret Channel. Resurrected by fourth generation relatives of the post-Victorian Bories Cold Storage Plant founders, The Singular Patagonia is set on 100 acres that overlook the cascading streams and cliffs of Chile’s Fjord of Last Hope. For a luxe retreat inspired by the storied earthy surroundings, the 3,000 square foot Singular SPA uses extracts from local organic plants and fruits in holistic oils and moisturizers applied in
spa treatments like the Patagonian Aroma hydrotherapy immersion bath (approx. $40) or the seaweed-enriched Marine Moisturizing Facial (approx. $98). The eco spa features a heated indoor and outdoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room.
Après spa must-do: Further indulge local flavours at The Singular’s restaurant with dishes of Patagonian hare, lamb, white strawberries and Patagonian honey and wine from Chile’s lush grape valley.

The latest hot spot for a glam spa getaway is up in the air—sort of. Virgin Airlines recently unveiled a 10,000-square-foot spa at its new Upper Class Lounge at New York’s JFK Airport. The first Clubhouse spa outside of London, the swank lounge has its own Bumble and bumble salon and offers facials using Dr. Hauschka products. Try the Hot Stone Foot and Leg Treatment (approx. $48) post-jet set or opt for a soothing back massage (approx. $48) to relax before catching a flight. Top off with bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor in Upper Class Red –a lip shade in collab with Virgin Atlantic—to match the iconic crimson fleet.
Click here for hottest beauty products to pack on your summer spa getaway.

For more exotic locales to try for your summer spa getaway, read on...

Nestled into the jagged landscape of the Cappadocia region of Anatolia—known for its extensive system of caves dating back to 4,000 BCE— Cappadocia Cave Resort and Spa offers a panoramic view of this UNESCO world heritage site, while you soak in a steam bath. Carved into the mountain, the spa offers old world, total-body pampering stemming from its Byzantine heritage, including a four-handed massage, sound and light-effected shower and couples’ massage sessions. Bonus: This majestic five-star resort offers 79 suites that range in luxury from Superior Room to the PadiShah Suite, a cave wine cellar and tours of its luminously lunar setting. Spa retreat type: The fossil lover Heartwood Inn & Spa, Drumheller, Alberta. 1-888-823-6495 (innsatheartwood.com)

Located in the Red Deer Valley, this town just 110 kilometers northeast of Calgary—known as the Alberta Badlands—is more commonly referred to as Dinosaur Valley, on account of its land rich in dinosaur fossils. What better way to prep for a visit to the world’s largest replica Tyrannosaurus Rex —the 26-metre tall steel mammoth four and a half times the size of the real dinosaur—with the spa’s The Oasis treatment (three hours, $165) which includes a HydroSonic water therapy treatment, massage and pedicure. Gourmet tip: While it’s not exactly prehistoric cuisine, we’d stay in this cottage style inn just for the berry-stuffed French toast breakfast. Spa retreat type: The hot tub lounger Laugurvatn Fontana Spa & Wellness Center, Laugarvatn, Iceland. (354) 486-1400 (fontana.is)

On the shores of Iceland’s historic Lake Laugarvatn, the thermal spring feeds steam into the brand new saunas and heats the water of the multiple outdoor pools of the recently opened Fontana Spa. The geometric-style building sits atop the volcanically heated waters, which locals have been stewing in for its cleansing health benefits since 1929. Steam rises through grids in the cabin floors of the wellness centre, which makes for year-round simmering in the thermal bath (approx. $17 per person). Open the connecting gateway to cool off in the Vatnið Lake situated on the warm black sand of the Ströndin beach, known for its arthritis and joint illness healing properties. Then make your way back to one of three outdoor mineral baths and enjoy local delicacies of trout, sand-baked brown bread and homemade cakes. Why would you ever leave?

Frank + Oak and the NBA team up on Raptors merch

Trends

Frank + Oak and the NBA team up on Raptors merch

Canadian fashion label Frank + Oak is always up to something, and tomorrow the Montreal-based brand will drop a 9-piece Raptors collection in collaboration with the NBA. The pieces that make up the line are directional, minimal and best of all—unisex. The pieces include a crisp Oxford shirt patterned with a subtle team logo, a heather grey waffle knit mock-neck and a leather backpack. The coolest piece might be the two-tone pop-over shirt. The Oxford's mock-neck collar and mix of materials offer a completely new take on fan gear. Even fair-weather fans (hey, no judgement) will be tempted by this sleek collab.

The collection will launch tomorrow online and at Frank + Oak's Queen West and CF Sherway Gardens outposts as well as the Real Sports Apparel shop at the Air Canada Center. The brand is set to release merch for 5 more NBA teams in 2017. Until then, go Raptors, go!

Celebrity

Gigi Hadid is going on a social media cleanse

Celebrity

Gigi Hadid is going on a social media cleanse

Gigi Hadid and Instagram are about to go on a break. The model recently revealed she'd be taking some time off from the social-media site after the holidays.

"I'm taking a month off, actually, during New Years. I'm not deleting my account, I'm just taking the apps off my phone," she told ELLE US of her social-media hiatus. "It's empowering, not just for people in the spotlight, for everyone. At the end of the day I'm choosing what I'm showing you. A lot of the world feels so entitled to other peoples' lives, which is so crazy. I'm going to take a break when I feel like it, and when I come back and share it with you, if you want to be supportive and still follow me, that's great. But, if you're going to be upset that I need to be human for a month, than maybe I don't want your follow anyway."

While we'll miss her killer feed – which includes her slaying the Victoria's Secret runway, arm in arm with beau Zayn Malik (see below), and #ootds in some of the coolest athleisure we've ever seen, we get it.

Gigi is not the only star to take a break from the 'gram this year. Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian and Selena Gomez also chose to detox from the app. "It has gotten to the point that people won't even say hi to me or recognize me as a human," Bieber wrote on Instagram before deleting his account, "I feel like a zoo animal, and I wanna be able to keep my sanity."

Everything you need to know about the changes to the Instagram comments section

Art & Design

Everything you need to know about the changes to the Instagram comments section

We all know how fun Instagram can be. The comments section though...not so fun. The social media platform (finally!) is working to change all that. Here are the three biggest updates it's rolling out.

1) You can turn comments on and off for individual posts–even after you've posted. One of your posts not getting the love you thought it would? Shut those comments off. Change your mind a few days later? Switch them back on. A few accounts already have this feature, but soon it will be rolling out to everyone.

2) In the past, those with private accounts could only delete followers they'd already approved by blocking them. Now, you can simple remove them as a follower and no, they won't get notified that you did. Think of it as the unfriending of Insta.

3) And now for our favourite update: You can finally like other people's comments! Just tap the little heart icon to show the commenter some love. According to the blog post announcing the new features, being able to like comments "lets you show support and encourages positivity throughout the community."